Here’s Why MicroSD Express Support on the Nintendo Switch 2 Could Be Costly

After Nintendo’s big reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2, we’ve got some intriguing technical nuggets to discuss about their latest console, particularly when it comes to storage. It looks like they’re requiring a new type of MicroSD card, called MicroSD Express, that you might find a bit pricey. The cost per GB for these cards is higher than many modern SSDs, with prices hovering around 20 to 25 cents per GB. In contrast, some of the more budget-friendly SSDs are just 5 to 6 cents per GB. This price hike can be attributed to the NVMe and PCIe 3.0 architecture integrated into MicroSD Express cards, tech that’s more often seen in M.2 SSDs.

SanDisk is jumping into the market with their MicroSD Express cards, starting at $49.99 for 128GB of storage, and the 256GB version running up to $64.99. These cards boast speeds that max out at 880 MB/s for reading, 480 MB/s for writing, and a sustained write speed of 100 MB/s.

Meanwhile, Lexar is making waves with offerings that stretch all the way to 1TB. But be prepared — this kind of bleeding-edge storage tech doesn’t come cheap.

Lexar’s Play Pro 1TB MicroSD Express card wears a hefty $199.99 price tag, with the 512 GB model at $99.99, and the 256 GB option at $49.99. They also claim their cards offer remarkable speeds of up to 900 MB/s read and 600 MB/s write.

Comparing costs, SanDisk’s cards go up to $0.39 per GB for the 128GB size, while the 256GB packs in at $0.25 per GB. Lexar, on the other hand, seems to hit a sweet spot across all sizes with a flat rate of $0.20 per GB, combined with what looks to be higher-end specs.

Now, here’s why all this talk of storage is crucial for the Switch 2. Though it ships with 256GB as standard, even physical game buyers aren’t off the hook. Many titles will need to be fully downloaded right onto your system despite owning the physical cartridge—a shift where the cartridge essentially acts as a “Game-Key Card” rather than a complete game. It’s possible that publishers want to curb cartridge manufacturing costs, especially as NAND storage prices inch up.

Take Street Fighter 6 for instance. Insert the cartridge, and you’ll still download an extra 50GB to your system. That 256GB will fill up sooner than you think. So, if you’re venturing into Nintendo’s new console world, think about investing in one of those pricey MicroSD cards if you want to avoid constantly juggling data on and off your device.

Despite looking similar on the outside to a regular MicroSD card, MicroSD Express is a powerful step forward from the UHS-I standard the original Switch used. The SD Association breaks down speeds into classes: Class 150, 300, 450, and 600, with each number reflecting minimum read/write speeds in MB/s. The MicroSD Express cards also boast 16 or 17 pins, a noticeable upgrade from the eight on the older versions.

Technically speaking, these cards pair with NVMe and PCIe 3.0 interfaces and could technically hit 2GB/s with a PCIe 4.0 setup. If you’re craving more deep-dives into the nitty-gritty tech, sites like AnandTech are worth a look.

That said, full details on how the Switch 2 will utilize these capabilities are still under wraps, and no MicroSD Express card currently hits those mind-blowing speeds. Lexar’s Play Pro MicroSDXC Express stands out, but we’ll have to wait and see how they perform in real-world tests once the Switch 2 and these cards are at your fingertips. For now, feel free to check out our hands-on impressions with the Nintendo Switch 2 and see what the future of handheld gaming holds.